Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-09-02

selves from being eaten. Their food
consists mainly of flies and the smaller
insects of the air.
There is about the same appearance
of reason for the statement that cha
meleons live on air that there is for
the story that they partly hide them
selves by making their color conform
to that of the substance next to them
Certainly they do make tremendous
show of devouring air. Some of the
African and South American varieties
initiate themselves clear to the tips OF
their tails. so that their shape is some
what like that of a kid-glove finger
blown up. But the Florida chameleons
do not put on such airs. When they
are inflated, they simply look as though
their tonsils were badly swollen. Why
the chameleons of the tropics initiate
themselves in such an extravagant way
nobody knows. Perhaps it is II precau-
ton against getting bruised, if they
should fall while doing SO much climb
ing around.
But, although there is no basis for
the two most extraordinary claims
made in their behalf-claims SO extra
ordinary that if they justly could be
made with respect, even to SO high a
creature as man, they would make him
a vastly more interesting object than
he is-chameleons are looked upon
with good deal of curiosity by
strangers visiting in the lands where
they live. Boys and girls soon learn
from the young natives how to make
pets of them, and keep them supplied
with tiny bright-colored ncck-ribbons,
both for the purpose of adornment and
Identification.
A chameleon will stay all winter on
a sunny window if treated with proper
consideration; and there is where he
shows his good sense, for he can sleel
with both eyes shut, and need not bt
continually on the lookout for black
snakes, lizards and other murderou
| monsters.
Occasionally a Northern girl so fal
| overcomes her innate prejudice agains
things rcStile-formed that she adorn
her hair with tiny acknowledge
chameleon, held with a thread of gold
after the manner of far-Southern bellies
AS is often the case with creature
that are very timid with respect t
others, chameleons are desperate fight
ers among themselves.
On bluff overlooking the st. John
river is deserted shanty, built AM
abandoned by man who entertaine'
and dismissed the notion of becomin,
an .'orange king" Chameleons hav
} taken possession of it, and their noise
less occupancy is in harmony with tn
quietness that has prevailed since it
builder departed.
One day in June tiny chameleO
looked down from a beam and spie
oh oil n
from the floor. The two little Great
} ures eyed each other for ten minute
| without moving even so much as tin
muscles that tip up their scales an
change their color. Then each darte
toward the other for the distance OF
may be, foot, and there was anothe
wait. II took them half an hour t
come together, but when they came
was with wide-open jaws.
1t was to be a catch-as-catch-canc con
bat, and their first hold was meant t
last. They locked jaws. and RENAME
apparently as motionless as in the il
, tervals when they were cycling eac
other from a distance; but soon the tin
muscles in their neck began to thro1
and the thin skin on their sides bega
: to rise and fall with their quick hear
beats.
A ray of sunlight fell upon the
from the opposite side, and as the bloc
shows red in the fingers of a hand he
3 before a candies flame, so did the
| blood show pink through their almo
: transparent sides.
8 The battle grew more desperate; ii
: throbbing of the tiny muscles BEGAN
g stronger; the heart-beats became fast
: than the ticking of a watch; the pin
: blood seemed to boil. Then, just
: the sparkle in their brown eyes beg;
Q to die out, stranger, who III
been watching the battle, took the ty
n small combatants in his hand, and
d their fright they loosed their dead
It hold.
9 For moment they lay painting in
= palm, and then they leaped to the 81
1t of the shanty and disappeared in OPP
y site directions.-E. M. Reaoey, tn Go
b en- Days.
> Price of tobacco in lRdQ.